Types of Science Projects

There are three major types of science projects. You can engineer or construct a scientific device, provide a demonstration of a scientific principle, or perform an experiment to answer a question.

Questions you may have include:

How do you construct a device?

How do you demonstrate a principle?

What is an experiment?

This lesson will answer those questions.

Construct device

You can build or consruct a device, machine, or mechanical structure, usually with the purpose of improving strength or performance.

Sample devices you could construct are:

Electroscope

Thermometer

Pulley configuation

Such devices could also be used to demonstrate a scientific principle.

Demonstration

Display projects involve a creative assembly of a board and construction of a model to show a visual representation of a larger fact. Making a model of the solar system, a house, or of a simple electric circuit are considered display projects.

Straight demonstration

A straight demonstration is simply showing the effect of some scientific principle. It is demonstrating how you can cause
some effect to occur.

For example, you can show how:

Static electricity will cause a balloon to stick
to the wall

Salt will turn a flame bright yellow

A hard-boiled egg can be sucked into a bottle

Demonstration device

One type of science project is to make a device that will demonstrate some principle.

For example, you could make:

A thermos bottle to demonstrate principles of thermal
insulation

An electroscope to demonstrate how to detect
static electricity

An electric battery from a lemon

Usually these experiments include using the devices to make some measurements or comparisons.

Perform experiment

An experimental project starts with an observation of some phenomenon, followed by an educated guess or hypothesis of an explanation, and use of scientific method to find a solution. Then a a report detailing the results and conclusions and an abstract are written and submitted.

What would happen?

You can extend demonstrations to improve them or see what would happen if you did
something different.

For example:

What materials work the best to make a balloon stick to the wall?

Does the temperature of the balloon make any difference?

What other materials change the color of a flame?

How far away can an electroscope detect a static charge?

What materials work the best for making a thermos bottle?

How long can you keep something cold or warm in various thermos'?

Summary

The three major types of science projects are that you can construct a scientific device, provide a demonstration of a scientific principle, or perform an experiment to answer a question.